They wouldn't even have to be happy-go-lucky pictures of Elijah, just something where he looks a little less perturbed! And I don't know Lucy at all, but I'm sure as long as she approved the banner she wouldn't mind it being changed, she seems like a reasonable and nice enough gal!

If we're going with the plan of switching up the banners every so often anyway, we could easily alternate between happy and mellow and sexy and whatever else. It would be an impermanent thing, if not everyone likes the same pictures. (Which, clearly, they don't.)

I'm almost positive Lucy will be fine with it, as it's just a banner for the board, rather than a new layout for the main site, which she spends more time on.

But before we start any kind of competition, yes, I'll contact her.

pffft, i don't care, i didn't make that banner, De [from e-lijah.net] did - you should know by now i'm hopeless at that stuff. So i don't really care if you change the banner at the top, although if it was the whole layout then i'd be a bit hesitant because i like this 1 and ppl are used to it. But basically there are ppl who like the banner, and ppl who hate it, and if we get a new one it'll be the same thing [it always is], so i suppose we might as well change it.

Umm... but i'm not really sure about the idea of having monthly/weekly competitions in order to change the banner. No offense to anyone, but if someone makes a banner which i think is really shotty [like the kinda stuff i'd make], i wouldn't have the heart to reject them and say "no, i don't want to put that up", but then there's no way i want to have it at the top of the forum. But maybe i'll change my mind once i know how it'd work.

BTW, i do care about the board and spend time with it [granted *definately* not as much time as with the site], but now that i do have my fantastic moderators it's easier to just let you guys work it out

About the selection process, I'd yet say it could be somewhat unfair to have done a banner that made it into the group of three, but will be never used (since a new one has to be supplied for the next month's contest, wouldn't it?). So, at least the artist who created it might be a little pissed.

I yet like the idea of having a stronger member participation in what happens at the board. So what about a solution...

Well, since beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, templates (or at least the choice of the top image) might be the "best" way to make this, together with a "top-image gallery", where users can choose from one available image. In this case, I'd suggest having the contest quarterly, choosing the top three by poll, and let them stay around for 12 months, so a maximum of 12 images will be there to choose from (for the members). After this period, members can choose from a wider selection--making it more likely they find there personal favorite

Another plus: I could program a little randomizer for people with faster Internet lines (DSL/T1/etc.), so they could have rotating images on top

Well, since beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, templates (or at least the choice of the top image) might be the "best" way to make this, together with a "top-image gallery", where users can choose from one available image. In this case, I'd suggest having the contest quarterly, choosing the top three by poll, and let them stay around for 12 months, so a maximum of 12 images will be there to choose from (for the members). After this period, members can choose from a wider selection--making it more likely they find there personal favorite

I love that idea! This way members will be able to choose their favourite banner right? Yep, love it. As long as you're sure that it won't involve too much work on your part that is. Hopefully this is an easier solution that adding whole new skins?